Drop-in alternative jet fuel

Article By:

Csonka, Steven Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, Lebanon, Ohio.

Last reviewed:2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB140416

The commercial aviation enterprise, propelled by a combination of concerns over the long-term use of petroleum-based jet fuel, and consistent with the 2008 Aviation Industry Commitment to Action on Climate Change and subsequent commitments, continues to pursue the development and commercialization of drop-in alternative jet fuel produced from sources of hydrocarbons other than petroleum. The concerns include supply and price stability, supply security, and environmental impact, all of which might be addressed by the wide-scale introduction of alternative jet fuel production. However, the environmental concern, primarily decoupling the growth of greenhouse gas emissions from the expected growth of the industry, has focused the industry's efforts on the commercialization of low-net-carbon fuels. These fuels, derived primarily from biologically created or waste-stream hydrocarbons (feedstocks), are often referred to as renewable jet fuel. Further, because these various concerns are also shared by the military and business aviation sectors, the turbine-powered aviation enterprise is now well aligned in its worldwide pursuit of drop-in renewable jet fuel development and commercialization.

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